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Drudge Retort: The Other Side of the News
Wednesday, September 24, 2025

His critics say he wants to defund the police. Zohran Mamdani insists he's just a guy trying to make New York City more affordable.

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Universal childcare wouldn't just relieve working families of a massive cost burden. It improves the whole economy. "There are a lot of reasons building a child care system that works for everyone is important to our children, to parents, to employers and to economic growth."

[image or embed]

-- Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@zohrankmamdani.bsky.social) Sep 23, 2025 at 12:17 PM

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... President Donald Trump calls him a "communist." His critics say he wants to defund the police. Zohran Mamdani insists he's just a guy trying to make New York City more affordable.

Mamdani s meteoritic rise to become the Democratic nominee for New York City mayor has put his past and present policy positions under close scrutiny. If elected, he would be the city's first Muslim and Indian American mayor. He'd be the city's most liberal mayor in generations.

But as he tries to broaden his support ahead of the November election, the state lawmaker has shifted more to the center on certain issues -- while distancing himself from other potentially damaging political stances. ...

Here's where he actually stands:

He's a democratic socialist, not a communist

While Trump and other opponents keep calling Mamdani a communist, he identifies as something different: a democratic socialist. He believes government should play a role in reducing economic disparity, but he doesn't advocate for a communist system where property is collectively owned. ...



#1 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-09-22 07:25 PM | Reply

The louder the deranged ad hominem attacks are against Zohran Mamdani, the more we realize the Republicans and AIPAC Democrats find him a threat. Here is the Democratic Socialists of America platform: www.dsausa.org

Zohran Mamdani wants to defang the NYPD, not defund them. After all, if Zohran wins in November, he will need the NYPD ESU to arrest ICC-indicted war criminals Benjamin Netanyahu or Vladimir Putin the moment either of them step foot onto NYC jurisdiction when they visit the UN: globalnews.ca

Zohran Mamdani is the only American politician that vows to have both of those homicidal lunatics arrested.

NYS Governor Kathy Hochul (D) can similarly order the NYSP to effect an arrest of those two murderous miscreants as well: i.pinimg.com

#2 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 2025-09-23 01:29 AM | Reply

Mamdani is the last chance working class Americans have.

Both parties are owned by billionaires and corporations.

#3 | Posted by ClownShack at 2025-09-23 02:16 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

#3: Mamdani is the last chance working class Americans have. Both parties are owned by billionaires and corporations.

Hi Clownshack: We mustn't forget US Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and "the Squad." Zohran is the first major electoral battle between "Us" on the bottom and "Them" on the top.

One of the litmus tests will be which late-night comedians put Zohran Mamdani on their show. AIPAC Democrats (or 'corporate Democrats" as Corky calls them) seem to be occasional guests. Sen Adam Schiff (D-CA) came on Jimmy Kimmel after the LA fires. I don't watch TV so I only read or hear about the appearances.

Check out the nasty and desperate agitprop that AIPAC and/or Andrew Cuomo put out. They darkened Zohran's appearance and libeled the poor guy as if New Yorkers are dumb: peoplesworld.org

#4 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 2025-09-23 03:37 AM | Reply

I love Bernie. But Bernie is very old, God protect him, and the DNC has blocked his candidacy in both 2016 and 2020. Both to the peril of the United States.

I like the idea of the squad, but it has mostly become AOC. I like AOC. She's a strong voice.

I am a fan of Jasmine Crockett.

I'm impressed by James Talarico.

I'm not the biggest fan of Newsom, but I am a fan of his anti Trump crusade.

I hope Mamdani wins.

We need politicians who put working people first. Regardless of all else.

#5 | Posted by ClownShack at 2025-09-23 04:12 AM | Reply

Jasmine Crockett is terrific and we shall keep an eye on young master James Talarico.

And yup, the Dems blocked poor Bernie twice. There was a brawl between Bernie and Hillary's supporters in Nevada after some Clinton subterfuge was exposed: web.archive.org

#6 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 2025-09-23 04:44 AM | Reply

Few of the people so freely using the term "communist" can accurately define "communism."
Straight line from the drunken thicko Joe McCarthy to the senile thief and convicted felon Donald Trump.

#7 | Posted by Doc_Sarvis at 2025-09-23 06:21 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 3

#7: www.youtube.com

#8 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 2025-09-23 06:43 AM | Reply

This nation needs a reset from billionaires controlling everything.

#9 | Posted by Nixon at 2025-09-23 07:43 AM | Reply

#9: This nation needs a reset from billionaires controlling everything. cdn5.vectorstock.com

#10 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 2025-09-23 07:50 AM | Reply

Under what authority can New York arrest?

#11 | Posted by Petrous at 2025-09-23 02:35 PM | Reply

Do Dems really want this guy to be the poster boy for their party?

#12 | Posted by BellRinger at 2025-09-23 07:02 PM | Reply

#12 | Posted by BellRinger

Supporting a fellow Democrat doesn't make them a poster boy. *People* chose him to be the candidate for mayor, not Democrats. What is the party supposed to do? Shun him because Republicans are fearmongering with their usual socialist/Marxist/will destroy the country spew? Republicans say that about every Democrat anyway.

#13 | Posted by Derek_Wildstar at 2025-09-24 01:09 PM | Reply

"Do Dems really want this guy to be the poster boy for their party?"

It looks like nationally, the answer is no. That said, who cares who NYC elects as mayor. Conventional wisdom holds that the city will be worse off based on objective standards, but if that's what they choose, so be it. It will be interesting to observe.

#14 | Posted by madbomber at 2025-09-24 01:48 PM | Reply

@#14 ... It looks like nationally, the answer is no. ...

Nor do they seem to want the current Dem leadership. How's Sen Schumer bbeen polling lately?

... who cares who NYC elects as mayor. Conventional wisdom holds that the city will be worse off based on objective standards ...

Time will tell.

One thing that is known locally, but not necessarily nationally, is that if he does win, a lot of what he wants to do needs state approval before it can be enacted.


#15 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-09-24 02:10 PM | Reply

AIPAC backed a disgraced ex-Governor and traitor to the Democratic Party who happily accepts donations from REPUBLICANS and OLIGARCHS. His father Mario must have rolled over in his grave several times.

And New Yorkers know it. From today's NY Post:

"Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani holds a dominant 20-point lead in the race for New York City Hall " bolstered by majority support from black, Latino and Asian voters, according to a new poll released Tuesday.

Mamdani leads independent candidate and former Gov. Andrew Cuomo 45%-25% among likely voters as Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa trails with 9% and incumbent Mayor Eric Adams with 8%, the Suffolk University "CityView" poll found.

But in even more bad news as his rivals cling to hopes of an upset victory, the poll shows Mamdani building support among black and Hispanic voters since his huge victory in the June Democratic Party primary over Cuomo and a slew of other candidates."


Links:

images.squarespace-cdn.com

www.thecut.com

nypost.com

www.theguardian.com

www.politico.com

www.motherjones.com

#16 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 2025-09-24 03:21 PM | Reply

"Nor do they seem to want the current Dem leadership. How's Sen Schumer bbeen polling lately?"

New York is not Dayton or St. Louis or Albuquerque. BL, I don't think that NYCers supporting Mamdani is reflective of a larger, nationwide Democratic party trend towards people like Mamdani. Anymore than AOC is championed as a party leader nationwide.

#17 | Posted by madbomber at 2025-09-24 03:48 PM | Reply

Do Dems really want this guy to be the poster boy for their party?

#12 | Posted by BellRinger

Remind us who your poster boy is again?

#18 | Posted by SpeakSoftly at 2025-09-24 04:34 PM | Reply

Do Dems really want this guy to be the poster boy for their party?

Yes.

Go shove your head back up Trump's rectum.

#19 | Posted by ClownShack at 2025-09-24 04:37 PM | Reply

POSTED BY MADBOMBER

I love these hot takes from our resident German conservative who supports Trump's fascism.

Apparently, he knows what Democrats in America want.

#20 | Posted by ClownShack at 2025-09-24 04:41 PM | Reply

@#17 ... New York is not Dayton or St. Louis or Albuquerque. BL, I don't think that NYCers supporting Mamdani is reflective of a larger, nationwide Democratic party trend towards people like Mamdani. ...

I do not disagree.

My current view is that the support for Mamdani in NYC is indicative, though, of Dem voters' frustration with the current Dem politicians.

I agree that NYC is not the rest of the Country, but I'd proffer that the frustration in NYC with the current Dems is indicative of a nationwide trend. Maybe (most likely?) not for someone like Mamdani, but for someone otherwise different than the current office-holders.




#21 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-09-24 06:29 PM | Reply

Corporate Democrats biggest problem with Mamdani is he hasn't bowed to Israel, he swore to raise his taxes on the ultra wealthy, he promised to look after working class Americans, he's Muslim.

MadBombers problem with Mamdani is he's a democrat, he didn't pledge fealty to Israel, he's Muslim, he challenged America's corporate masters.

#22 | Posted by ClownShack at 2025-09-24 06:33 PM | Reply

@#22 ... Corporate Democrats biggest problem with Mamdani is he hasn't bowed to Israel, he swore to raise his taxes on the ultra wealthy, he promised to look after working class Americans, he's Muslim. ...

The "he hasn't bowed to Israel" aspect is quite curious in NYC.

History of the Jews in New York City
en.wikipedia.org

... Jews comprise approximately 12% of New York City's population, making the Jewish community the largest in the world outside of Israel. ...



#23 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-09-24 06:44 PM | Reply

What's unfortunate is the idea the Israel and Judaism are interdependent.

They're not.

Israel is a nation ruled by belligerent men.

Jewish people are members of all nations.

#24 | Posted by ClownShack at 2025-09-24 08:14 PM | Reply

@#24 ... What's unfortunate is the idea the Israel and Judaism are interdependent.

Israel is a nation ruled by belligerent men.

Jewish people are members of all nations. ...

I do not disagree.

That appears to me to be a significant statement.

But, do go on, especially with the "Israel is a nation ruled by belligerent men." aspect.

...

#25 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-09-24 08:40 PM | Reply

I mean. What explanation do you look for?

Netanyahu is corrupt and holding onto power to save himself.

Much like Trump.

#26 | Posted by ClownShack at 2025-09-24 08:58 PM | Reply


@#26 ... I mean. What explanation do you look for? ...

I'm not looking for an explanation.

Why?

Maybe because of this ...

...Netanyahu is corrupt and holding onto power to save himself. ...

So yeah, so long as PM Netanyahu retains his office, he apparently will not have to face the legal charges against him.


Again, I do not disagree.

So, how does all that affect the NYC Mayoral campaign?


#27 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-09-24 09:20 PM | Reply

Republican NYC Mayoral Candidate Curtis Sliwa said that oligarchs offered him money to quit the race. Sliwa threatened to expose their names. This tells you how desperate the status quo (AIPAC and the superrich) are of Zohran Mamdani's genuine appeal to New Yorkers.

Link: www.cnbc.com

#28 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 2025-09-24 11:19 PM | Reply

@#28

Yeah, this may be an interesting election.

And, for better or worse, I see it on the local evening news every day.


(OK, Nexstar has killed Jimmy Kimmel in the evening on the Connecticut ABC station for the state of Connecticut but, I am in the NYC media area, so I still see the ABC news coverage from the ABC-owned WABC-TV.)

#29 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-09-24 11:38 PM | Reply

Cuomo should have dropped out.

The fact he's still running is absolutely absurd.

He lost the primary and bowed out. Before being forced back in.

#30 | Posted by ClownShack at 2025-09-24 11:44 PM | Reply

Nexstar And Sinclair, Two Largest Station Groups, Wield Influence In ABC Decision To Pull Jimmy Kimmel In Light Of His Charlie Kirk Comments -- Update
deadline.com

... In a statement, Nexstar said, "Nexstar's owned and partner television stations affiliated with the ABC Television Network will preempt Jimmy Kimmel Live! for the foreseeable future beginning with tonight's show. Nexstar strongly objects to recent comments made by Mr. Kimmel concerning the killing of Charlie Kirk and will replace the show with other programming in its ABC-affiliated markets." ...


#31 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-09-24 11:44 PM | Reply

So, Nexstar, when given the use of public airwaves for the public's benefit, now seems to unilaterally decide on how that benefit applies?

#32 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-09-24 11:46 PM | Reply

@#30 ... Cuomo should have dropped out.

The fact he's still running is absolutely absurd. ..

I do not disagree.

His continued running seems to be more of an ego thing, rather than a thing to promote what he espouses.

#33 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-09-24 11:48 PM | Reply

Cuomo should have dropped out.
The fact he's still running is absolutely absurd.
He lost the primary and bowed out. Before being forced back in.

Posted by ClownShack at 2025-09-24 11:44 PM | Reply

He's pulling a Joe Lieberman. It's sad but that's what is happening.

#34 | Posted by LauraMohr at 2025-09-24 11:53 PM | Reply

@#34 ... He's pulling a Joe Lieberman. It's sad but that's what is happening. ...

I don't understand "He's pulling a Joe Lieberman."

Can you explain what that means?

thx.

#35 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-09-24 11:56 PM | Reply

I don't understand "He's pulling a Joe Lieberman."
Can you explain what that means?
thx.
Posted by LampLighter at 2025-09-24 11:56 PM | Reply

The last election Joe Lieberman was involved in. He lost the primary election to someone else. Instead of bowing out he ran as an independent and won in the general election. With large scale help from the RNC I might add.

#36 | Posted by LauraMohr at 2025-09-25 12:01 AM | Reply

His continued running seems to be more of an ego thing,

It's more of a puppet thing.

He dropped out. His coming back was placed upon him by the people who put a lot of money into him and need him to run in hopes of diverting any voters to him as they can.

#37 | Posted by ClownShack at 2025-09-25 12:02 AM | Reply

@#36

Thanks for that follow-up.

Most appreciated.

thx.



Thanks

#38 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-09-25 12:08 AM | Reply

OK, so the NYC Mayor election seems to be a concern because of a candidate who refuses to drop out, and may want to be a spoiler in the election?

Am I reading the ~vibe~ here correctly?

#39 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-09-25 12:11 AM | Reply

Lamp. You live in Connecticut, Leibermann was your Senator, surely you know the History?

What was the point of asking Laura to explain something you obviously knew already.

Or did you?

#40 | Posted by Effeteposer at 2025-09-25 12:53 AM | Reply

I hope Mamdani wins. NYC deserves every bit of him.

#41 | Posted by lfthndthrds at 2025-09-25 11:13 AM | Reply

I hope Mamdani wins. NYC deserves every bit of him.

#41 | Posted by lfthndthrds

If they open up government run markets. Wow, thats more communist than my home country.

Lamp. You live in Connecticut, Leibermann was your Senator, surely you know the History?

We don't call him "Gaslighter" for nothing. He claims all sorts of things, but then you read his posts, and it just doesn't add up.

Personally I think he gets paid per post. Possibly even per character.

#42 | Posted by oneironaut at 2025-09-25 11:29 AM | Reply

His continued running seems to be more of an ego thing, rather than a thing to promote what he espouses.

No he's a moderate, he's thinking perhaps he can get some R's and moderate D's. Its a good strategy, this is why America politics is somewhat self righting.

#43 | Posted by oneironaut at 2025-09-25 11:30 AM | Reply | Funny: 1

He claims all sorts of things, but then you read his posts, and it just doesn't add up.
Personally I think he gets paid per post. Possibly even per character.
#42 | POSTED BY ONETRUMPER

Must be cathartic to finally accept this about yourself.

#44 | Posted by ClownShack at 2025-09-25 12:48 PM | Reply

Apparently, he knows what Democrats in America want.

The Democrats in New York don't seem to be certain they want him, and he is one of theirs.

I'm just not sure the Mamdani message would resonate with most voters in flyover country.

Don't get me wrong-I don't think the Dems should try and sabotage his campaign. The people of NYC want him, and they should get what they want.

Just like with Trump.

#45 | Posted by madbomber at 2025-09-25 12:59 PM | Reply

"MadBombers problem with Mamdani is he's a democrat, he didn't pledge fealty to Israel, he's Muslim, he challenged America's corporate masters."

Corporate Masters...

Drink!

#46 | Posted by madbomber at 2025-09-25 01:10 PM | Reply

"Israel is a nation ruled by belligerent men."

Gaza is an, I don't know what Gaza is-certainly not a nation, ruled by vastly more belligerent men.

The same may be true in the West Bank. I'm undecided on who is worse with regards to that community.

#47 | Posted by madbomber at 2025-09-25 01:12 PM | Reply | Funny: 1

With regards to Israel, Friedrich Nietzsche said it best. "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you."

That's my concern with Israel. I think the Palestinians were once the same way, but over time became the monsters.

#48 | Posted by madbomber at 2025-09-25 01:14 PM | Reply

I don't know what Gaza is
#47 | POSTED BY MADBOMBER

That tracks.

Thanks, stupid.

#49 | Posted by ClownShack at 2025-09-25 02:21 PM | Reply

#49

So what is "Gaza," other than a region in the Levant that was once part of Egypt?

It's certainly not a nation.

#50 | Posted by madbomber at 2025-09-25 02:34 PM | Reply | Funny: 1

And I understand that for many of our leftist friends, they have as much appreciation for Nietzsche as the congregation of the Westboro Baptist Church. Same type of people.

#51 | Posted by madbomber at 2025-09-25 02:36 PM | Reply

I don't know what Gaza is
#47 | POSTED BY MADBOMBER

Dude, you couldn't convince me you're a bigger waste of time if you tried.

Go figure out what Gaza is and then ---- off.

#52 | Posted by ClownShack at 2025-09-25 02:42 PM | Reply

Telling me you don't know without telling me you don't know.

Par for the course.

#53 | Posted by madbomber at 2025-09-25 02:48 PM | Reply

I don't know what Gaza is
#47 | POSTED BY MADBOMBER

Reinforces my opinion of you as a high school drop out turned latrine digger.

#54 | Posted by ClownShack at 2025-09-25 02:54 PM | Reply

"Reinforces my opinion of you as a high school drop out turned latrine digger."

Would you like to compare academic pedigrees? How about career accomplishments? Life in general? Anything?

I didn't think so.

If you had two brain cells to rub together, which I'm not confident of, it would just reinforce your lack of accomplishment.

We don't need another angry incel mass shooter.

#55 | Posted by madbomber at 2025-09-25 03:31 PM | Reply

Enjoy your military housing my taxes pay for.

#56 | Posted by ClownShack at 2025-09-25 03:39 PM | Reply

#56

A) you know I'm not in the military right? Or a government employee.

B) It's adorable you think you pay taxes. At least compared to what I pay. And my first $128K is tax exempt.

Again...lack of accomplishment. But don't shoot anyone.

#57 | Posted by madbomber at 2025-09-25 03:42 PM | Reply | Funny: 1

Please, keep trying to impress me.

You're almost there!

Actually, would've been more impressed if you knew what Gaza is.

But here we are.

#58 | Posted by ClownShack at 2025-09-25 04:02 PM | Reply

So what is "Gaza," other than a region in the Levant that was once part of Egypt?

Could be a great destination. Think early Lebanon before the Palestinians showed up.

Lebanon was referred to as The Switzerland of the Middle East.
www.the961.com

#59 | Posted by oneironaut at 2025-09-25 04:19 PM | Reply

Clown likes Jasmine Crockett, what a ------- surprise

#60 | Posted by kwrx25 at 2025-09-25 09:49 PM | Reply

KWRX is a deplorable Trumping MAGAt.

No one's ------- surprised.

#61 | Posted by ClownShack at 2025-09-25 10:03 PM | Reply

A 4% corporate tax bump and 2% bump on income over a million annual, putting off $4 billion that's supposed to pay for expanded bus service and free ridership programs, universal child care, and increase the stock of public housing so extensively it pushes down overall housing costs.

I'm skeptical it works out that well.

#62 | Posted by sitzkrieg at 2025-09-26 08:26 AM | Reply

You have to go +6%, +3% just to pay for the child care program setup with low service and 70% uptake rate. If it's good and the uptake is higher, +9%, +6% range. The best case scenario would be nobody uses it. If people use it, it's not financially possible under his tax plan without billions of additional annual debt. That's before trying to expand public transport and housing.

#63 | Posted by sitzkrieg at 2025-09-26 08:32 AM | Reply

__________
#27 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-09-24 09:20 PM
So yeah, so long as PM Netanyahu retains his office, he apparently will not have to face the legal charges against him.

Apparently you have no idea of how democracy in Israel works - Netanyahu has been investigated for since 2016 and charged with 5 [specious] counts of corruption against him in 2019, with trial starting in early 2020. It took so long because prosecution has no real case against him and not one of 333 "witnesses" they brought to the stand testified against him or took a plea. They had to rest and defense took over in December of 2024, starting with Netanyahu's testimony. He has been testifying still last month, and judge panel ordered for case testimonies to be 3-4 times a week to speed up the case.

That's while in office, through COVID, October 7 2023 and war against Hamas, neutralizing Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hezbollah, Iran, Assad and Putin in Syria, Yemen's Houthis, Iran nuclear threat, etc. etc.

I'm not looking for an explanation.
Why?
Maybe because of this ...

- - - - - ...Netanyahu is corrupt and holding onto power to save himself. ...


So how exactly is he "saving himself" while on trial and how could he be "holding onto power"?

There are parliamentary elections in Israel, just like in many European countries. Unlike Gaza, under "Hamas management" since 2007 and West Bank where Abbas is into his 21st year of 4-year term he's been "elected" to.

Re "corrupt" you are just echoing what you have "learned" right here, on "this most august of the august sites."

Check the cases 1000, 2000 and 4000 against Netanyahu and see if those qualify as "corruption" by our "democratic" standards, e.g., case 1000:

|------- In Case 1000, Netanyahu is accused of having a conflict of interest while he was the Minister of Communications and handled affairs related to Arnon Milchan's business interests. The prosecution alleges that Netanyahu received expensive cigars and champagne worth $195,000 from Milchan and James Packer, a friend of Milchan's, over a period of 20 years.

... As per the allegations, in the years 2013 " 2014, Netanyahu asked John Kerry on three separate occasions, to help Milchan in securing a US Visa. ...
-------|


Again, I do not disagree. So, how does all that affect the NYC Mayoral campaign?

Because propaganda rules demand (and pays only) that any thread is turned into anti-Israel, anti-Netanyahu, anti-Joo discussion (see Effeteposer et al) whenever possible.

BTW, the word HAMAS didn't appear once in this thread about "belligerent people"... that Israel and their governments had to defend against since its establishment in 1948.
__________

#64 | Posted by CutiePie at 2025-09-27 12:50 PM | Reply

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